The facts
What schorl actually is
Schorl is classified as schorl tourmaline, with the composition NaFe₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from iron, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.635–1.675. Specific gravity around 3.10–3.25. Cleavage: indistinct. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where schorl comes from
Schorl is produced at Brazil, Namibia, Pakistan and Madagascar.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
Is schorl treated?
None.
That makes disclosure simple: there is nothing to declare. It also means a seller offering a "treated" version of this material is offering something else.
What schorl is confused with
In the trade schorl is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Obsidian, Black spinel or Jet.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.635–1.675 and specific gravity 3.10–3.25 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What schorl is used for
Demand for schorl comes from wellness and body care, decorative objects, mineral collecting and jewellery, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the kilo, by the piece or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 7–7.5; cleavage indistinct. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What schorl costs
As a guide, schorl trades around $0.20–5/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is schorl treated?
None.
Where does schorl come from?
Brazil, Namibia, Pakistan and Madagascar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is schorl hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does schorl cost?
Indicatively $0.20–5/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is schorl confused with?
Most often Obsidian, Black spinel and Jet. A refractive index of 1.635–1.675 and a specific gravity near 3.10–3.25 separate it quickly.
What is schorl used for besides jewellery?
wellness and body care, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for schorl?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about schorl